Grand Balkan Tour 2

Itinerary:

Day 1
:
ZAGREB – Arrival

Upon arrival at Zagreb Airport, transfer to hotel. Meet the tour guide, dinner and overnight.

Day 2
:
ZAGREB – BLED – LJUBLJANA

Morning city tour of Zagreb, including the fortified Upper Town, city’s historical centre, St Mark’s Church with its multicolored roof, the Cathedral, the Croatian National Theatreand the University. Free time, then departure towards Slovenia. Explore Lake Bled and it’s montanious environs and stunning topography. Continue to Ljubljana. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3
:
LJUBLJANA – PLITVICE

Morning city tour of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia and a home to one of the oldest Philharmonics in the world; Explore the baroque town buildings and stroll beside majestic Ljubljana River. Departure for Plitvice and then tour the Plitvice Lakes National Park on the UNESCO’s List of World Natural Heritage. Sixteen lakes, each at a different level, are connected in a series of cascading waterfalls. Surrounded by dense wood, Plitvice Lakes are a natural phenomenon of a rare and unique beauty. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Plitvice.

Day 4
:
PLITVICE – TROGIR – SPLIT

Morning departure for Trogir, where we visit the Cathedral of St. Lawrence. Continuation to Split; city tour of Split, including the Diocletian’s Palace on the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage with the Peristyle, the Jupiter’s Temple and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Split.

Day 5
:
SPLIT – DUBROVNIK

After breakfast, departure for Dubrovnik, via Bosnia & Herzegovina. Short stop in Mostar, recently included in the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage with its elegant Bridge, Old Bazaar, the Mosque and a typical Turkish house. Continuation to Dubrovnik. Afternoon city tour Sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik, included on the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage. You will visit the Franciscan Monastery with Europe’s third oldest pharmacy, the Rector’s Palace and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 6
:
DUBROVNIK

Day at leisure in Dubrovnik. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7
:
DUBROVNIK – BUDVA / Montenegro – SHKODRA / Albania – TIRANA

Departure for Tirana; we drive inland to Budva known for its Old City encircled by walls from the Venetian period. Continuation to Shkodra, once the capital of the Illyrian Kingdom (3rd century B.C.). Dinner and overnight in Tirana.

Day 8
:
TIRANA – OHRID / Macedonia

Morning sightseeing tour of Tirana, the capital of Albania, including Skender Bey Square, the Mosque of Ethem Bey, and a visit to the National Museum representing the flow ofAlbanian history, also housing the finds from archeological sites across the country. Afternoon departure for Ohrid, driving via Elbasan and crossing the Macedonian border at Cafasan. Dinner and overnight in Ohrid.

Day 9
:
OHRID

Full day in the lakeside resort of Ohrid, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritagesite. Through the activity of St. Clement and St. Naum of Ohrid, the first pan-Slavic University in Europe, the famous “Ohrid Literary School”, was founded here. Morning sightseeing tour includes the Church of St. Sofia (11th century), the most eminent mediaeval monument in Macedonia with magnificent Byzantine fresco paintings and St. Clement Church with its icon of Annunciation. Afternoon short drive to St. Naum Monastery, built on the shores of Ohrid Lake in 900 A.D. and dedicated to the Slavic missionary and educator St. Naum of Ohrid. Return to hotel for overnight.

Day 10
:
OHRID – SKOPJE

Morning departure for Skopje. Sightseeing tour of Skopje, including the Kale Fortress, Church of the Holy Savior with its iconostas, one of the finest samples of traditional walnut woodcarving, Old Bazaar and Stone Bridge. We drive to the slopes of the Vodno Mountain where we visit the Monastery of St. Panteleimon with its 12th century iconostas and frescoes ranking among the highest achievements of Byzantine art of this period. Dinner and overnight in Skopje.

Day 11
:
SKOPJE – KOLAŠIN / Montenegro

Morning departure for Kolašin, driving via Peć and Berane and along the impressive Morača River Canyon. Afternoon arrival at Kolašin, the town spreading on the left bank of the river Tara, situated at the altitude of 954m. The whole area is surrounded by the thick pine forest of the Bjelasica Mountain and is a popular skiing and air spa resort. Dinner and overnight in Kolašin.

Day 12
:
KOLAŠIN – CETINJE – KOTOR – DUBROVNIK

Morning departure for Cetinje where we visit King Nikola’s Museum, once the residence of the Montenegrin King Nikola I Petrović. Continuation to Kotor, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site, where we visit its Romanesque Cathedral dedicated to St Triphon, the city’s patron saint. We continue to Dubrovnik, driving along the picturesqueBay of Kotor. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Entrance fees to the Lake Bled; the Plitvice Lakes National Park; St. Lawrence Cathedral in Trogir; Diocletian’s Palace and St. Duimus Cathedral in Split; Franciscan Monastery and Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik; National Museum in Tirana, St. Sofia, St. Clement and St. Naum in Ohrid; Church of Holy Savior and Monastery of St. Panteleimon in Skopje; Residence of King Nikola I Petrović in Cetinje; St. Triphun Cathedral in Kotor

air-conditioned motor coach throughout

tour escort throughout

Hotels:

Zagreb - International 4*

Ljubljana - Union hotels 4*

Plitvice - Park 4*

Split - Katarina 4* or similar

Dubrovnik - Ivka 3*

Tirana - Sky Tower 4*

Ohrid - Metropol 4*

Skopje - Karpoš 4*

Kolašin - Bianca 4*

This tour was the combination of a rich history and unrivalled natural beauty, All Balcan countries are amazing destination to visit. Hotels were good enough and the food was brilliant. A big thank you to everyone at East West Tours for making this experience possible. Even the long drives and city tours were amazing experiences. I loved every moment of this tour. Tom Cohen

Entrance fees to the Lake Bled; the Plitvice Lakes National Park; St. Lawrence Cathedral in Trogir; Diocletian’s Palace and St. Duimus Cathedral in Split; Franciscan Monastery and Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik; National Museum in Tirana, St. Sofia, St. Clement and St. Naum in Ohrid; Church of Holy Savior and Monastery of St. Panteleimon in Skopje; Residence of King Nikola I Petrović in Cetinje; St. Triphun Cathedral in Kotor

air-conditioned motor coach throughout

tour escort throughout

Itinerary:

Day 1
:
ZAGREB – Arrival

Upon arrival at Zagreb Airport, transfer to hotel. Meet the tour guide, dinner and overnight.

Day 2
:
ZAGREB – BLED – LJUBLJANA

Morning city tour of Zagreb, including the fortified Upper Town, city’s historical centre, St Mark’s Church with its multicolored roof, the Cathedral, the Croatian National Theatreand the University. Free time, then departure towards Slovenia. Explore Lake Bled and it’s montanious environs and stunning topography. Continue to Ljubljana. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3
:
LJUBLJANA – PLITVICE

Morning city tour of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia and a home to one of the oldest Philharmonics in the world; Explore the baroque town buildings and stroll beside majestic Ljubljana River. Departure for Plitvice and then tour the Plitvice Lakes National Park on the UNESCO’s List of World Natural Heritage. Sixteen lakes, each at a different level, are connected in a series of cascading waterfalls. Surrounded by dense wood, Plitvice Lakes are a natural phenomenon of a rare and unique beauty. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Plitvice.

Day 4
:
PLITVICE – TROGIR – SPLIT

Morning departure for Trogir, where we visit the Cathedral of St. Lawrence. Continuation to Split; city tour of Split, including the Diocletian’s Palace on the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage with the Peristyle, the Jupiter’s Temple and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Split.

Day 5
:
SPLIT – DUBROVNIK

After breakfast, departure for Dubrovnik, via Bosnia & Herzegovina. Short stop in Mostar, recently included in the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage with its elegant Bridge, Old Bazaar, the Mosque and a typical Turkish house. Continuation to Dubrovnik. Afternoon city tour Sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik, included on the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage. You will visit the Franciscan Monastery with Europe’s third oldest pharmacy, the Rector’s Palace and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 6
:
DUBROVNIK

Day at leisure in Dubrovnik. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7
:
DUBROVNIK – BUDVA / Montenegro – SHKODRA / Albania – TIRANA

Departure for Tirana; we drive inland to Budva known for its Old City encircled by walls from the Venetian period. Continuation to Shkodra, once the capital of the Illyrian Kingdom (3rd century B.C.). Dinner and overnight in Tirana.

Day 8
:
TIRANA – OHRID / Macedonia

Morning sightseeing tour of Tirana, the capital of Albania, including Skender Bey Square, the Mosque of Ethem Bey, and a visit to the National Museum representing the flow ofAlbanian history, also housing the finds from archeological sites across the country. Afternoon departure for Ohrid, driving via Elbasan and crossing the Macedonian border at Cafasan. Dinner and overnight in Ohrid.

Day 9
:
OHRID

Full day in the lakeside resort of Ohrid, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritagesite. Through the activity of St. Clement and St. Naum of Ohrid, the first pan-Slavic University in Europe, the famous “Ohrid Literary School”, was founded here. Morning sightseeing tour includes the Church of St. Sofia (11th century), the most eminent mediaeval monument in Macedonia with magnificent Byzantine fresco paintings and St. Clement Church with its icon of Annunciation. Afternoon short drive to St. Naum Monastery, built on the shores of Ohrid Lake in 900 A.D. and dedicated to the Slavic missionary and educator St. Naum of Ohrid. Return to hotel for overnight.

Day 10
:
OHRID – SKOPJE

Morning departure for Skopje. Sightseeing tour of Skopje, including the Kale Fortress, Church of the Holy Savior with its iconostas, one of the finest samples of traditional walnut woodcarving, Old Bazaar and Stone Bridge. We drive to the slopes of the Vodno Mountain where we visit the Monastery of St. Panteleimon with its 12th century iconostas and frescoes ranking among the highest achievements of Byzantine art of this period. Dinner and overnight in Skopje.

Day 11
:
SKOPJE – KOLAŠIN / Montenegro

Morning departure for Kolašin, driving via Peć and Berane and along the impressive Morača River Canyon. Afternoon arrival at Kolašin, the town spreading on the left bank of the river Tara, situated at the altitude of 954m. The whole area is surrounded by the thick pine forest of the Bjelasica Mountain and is a popular skiing and air spa resort. Dinner and overnight in Kolašin.

Day 12
:
KOLAŠIN – CETINJE – KOTOR – DUBROVNIK

Morning departure for Cetinje where we visit King Nikola’s Museum, once the residence of the Montenegrin King Nikola I Petrović. Continuation to Kotor, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site, where we visit its Romanesque Cathedral dedicated to St Triphon, the city’s patron saint. We continue to Dubrovnik, driving along the picturesqueBay of Kotor. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 13
:
DUBROVNIK – Departure

Breakfast followed by departure transfer to Dubrovnik Airport.

Testimonials:

This tour was the combination of a rich history and unrivalled natural beauty, All Balcan countries are amazing destination to visit. Hotels were good enough and the food was brilliant. A big thank you to everyone at East West Tours for making this experience possible. Even the long drives and city tours were amazing experiences. I loved every moment of this tour. Tom Cohen